Stephen Colbert to succeed David Letterman as host of “The Late Show”

Stephen Colbert to succeed David Letterman as host of “The Late Show”

Brian Stelter, (CNN) — Stephen Colbert will succeed David Letterman as the host of “The Late Show,” CBS announced on Thursday, one week after Letterman told his audience that he would retire sometime in 2015.

CBS said Colbert had signed a five-year contract to host the iconic late-night broadcast.

Colbert, 49, has been the host of Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report” since 2005.